11:2

the men of ancient times: Or “our ancestors”; lit., “the older men.” Having explained what faith is, Paul now goes on to name in chronological order men and women from the past who exercised this vital quality. Many of the Hebrew Christians were direct descendants of some of these faithful worshippers whose accounts were recorded in the Scriptures. So the Hebrew Christians were well-acquainted with these historical examples of faith. By considering how each one of them won God’s approval, Paul’s readers could better understand what faith is and how it could help them deal with their trials.

had witness borne to them: The Greek verb used here (mar·ty·reʹo) literally means “to bear witness; to testify.” (See study note on Joh 18:37.) In the Greco-Roman world, this term often appeared in public inscriptions to express honor and approval of someone. Thus, the term could also mean “to bear favorable witness of; to approve of.” Jehovah expressed his approval of men and women of faith by blessing them while they lived and by preserving a permanent record, or testimony, about them in his written Word. The same Greek verb appears several more times in Hebrews chapter 11. (See study notes on Heb 11:4, 5, 39.) At Heb 12:1, Paul uses a related noun rendered “witnesses” to refer to faithful ones, including those mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11.